Mage Robe
“The clothes make the mage.”
-popular saying
As every child knows, mages wear robes. Many people think that good mages always wear white robes and evil mages always wear black robes, but as with many things in life, the matter is not that simple. Even mages cannot agree on what constitutes a proper robe.
When traveling, mages usually prefer comfortable, robust robes that are neither too long nor too warm. All prefer robes that are embroidered with arcane symbols, to display their status as a mage. Some mages also prefer a robe with a hood to protect themselves from wind, rain, and overbearing sun.
Clothing regulations are set down in the Codex Albyricus, the laws governing all guild mages. It specifies that a mage should own five types of robes that each serve different purposes. This special attire provides the wearer with a slight bonus for casting spells and performing rituals.
- Light Robe: Whether the goal is sinister manipulation or kindly healing, this robe is the first choice for everything that concerns the human or animal mind. The light robe must be cut from blue, red, or green cloth with silver embroidering of symbols of the mind, communication, and magical power.
- Great Robe: The great robe is the ideal work clothing for mages who occupy themselves with alchemy and transformative magic. It is made from red, blue, or green silk, with silver and black embroidery of the symbols of the wandering stars, the six elements, and arcane power.
- Invocation Robe: The invocation robe has a somewhat misleading name in that is serves both for invocation and for abjuration of non-derenean creatures. It is very plain and is worn without any head covering, further clothes, or shoes. Depending on the creatures to be invoked or abjured, its color must be white (for elementals), red (for ghosts), or black (for demons).
- Convention Robe: Unlike other types of mage’s robes, the convention robe, also called the festival robe, does not improve the use of magic. It is a social garment worn over white trousers to mages’ conventions and other festive events of all kinds. It must be made from dark blue or red silk embroidered with symbols of arcane power and communication.
- Traveler’s Robe: For traveling, the Codex prescribes a plain robe of gray or white linen, depending on weather conditions, combined with trousers and a cloak as plain as the robe. No other clothing regulation is ignored as often or stretched as far as this one.
Mages often supplement these robes with items like pointy hats, caps with ram horns, or headbands with pentagram or unicorn symbols, depending on personal taste.
Traditional mages don’t wear anything else, as robes are a mark of their status, a fact that they enjoy sharing with less traditional mages. Such arguments rarely change anyone’s minds. Younger mages certainly recognize the advantages of an invocation robe, but they simply refuse to obey the strict regulations governing the traveler’s robe. This opinion is shared by free thinkers with little regard for rules, practical mages who find robes too restricting in combat, status conscious mages who proudly display their ties to a political group or family, or mages who simply want to show off the latest fashion.
All agree with traditionalists that mages should always be recognizable as such, even if they might have very different reasons for doing so. Some wish to deter enemies, others want to advertise their magical abilities, and some simply wish to wear clothing that society finds acceptable.
Wearing the wrong robe when meeting a traditionalist often earns an admonishment or a patronizing lecture, but does not break any formal rule.
“My clothing? You would be shocked to hear about some of my colleagues’ fashion crimes, but the less said, the better.”
— Mirhiban al’Orhima, Tulamydian fire mage
“I like your robe. It’s very… pleasing unto Rahja.”
— Rowena of the Transweal, Bornish cat witch
“Indeed! Don’t change for our sakes. You can wear what you want, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
— Geron Bladebreaker, mercenary